Rock Music; Wolf or Sheep?

The latest revision of this research paper has been put in print and is available for only $6.95 from Lulu publishers. This book is great reading for parents and teens and can easily be read an taught as part of a Sunday school series. 

Imagine for a moment that you are a sheep in a large flock and suddenly you hear a cry of WOLF!  You would probably run to safety as quickly as possible.  But what if after you ran away you turned around and saw what looked like a sheep coming toward you, and not a wolf.  And then a controversy arose; some of the sheep in the flock said it was not a wolf but a sheep, yet others still maintained that it was a wolf.  Some of the sheep even though they were still a little wary went over to the approaching animal and came back and said that it really was a sheep, and not a wolf.  Yet others insisted it was a very cleverly disguised wolf, it was a wolf in sheep’s clothing.  If you were one of those sheep what would you do?   I do not know about you, but realizing the potential danger of a wolf to sheep, I would cautiously investigate the situation before risking possible destruction.

An “animal” has approached the flock of God and some claim it is a “sheep” while others are saying that it is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”  The “animal” that has approached the church is Christian rock music.  Some maintain that this “animal” is a “sheep” or that it is ok for a Christian to listen to Christian rock, but others maintain that it is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” or that it is not ok for a Christian to listen to, and that it could destroy a Christian’s life.  This article is designed to provide you with information whereby you can decide whether this “animal,” Christian rock music, is a “sheep” or a “wolf.” 

In order to determine whether Christian rock and or any other form of rock music is a “wolf” or “sheep” we will examine Rock music’s origin, purpose, and effect, and then evaluate these aspects in light of God’s word.  Before I present the information I would ask you to seriously and reverently evaluate the following discussion with an open mind and prayer.  For your agreement or disagreement with this article will have eternal ramifications.

For purposes of our discussion in this paper we must first define what rock music is.  In recent years rock music is the term given to a particular form of music with a heavy beat.  It can be characterized by music where the rhythm or beat is a prominent and or dominating part of the music or where the music is discordant in its beat or chords.  Therefore for purposes of discussion in this article we will refer to music in which the beat is the prominent or controlling part of the music, and or music which is discordant in its beat or chords, as rock music.  Tim Fisher in his book entitled The Battle for Christian Music made this statement about the composition of rock music.

"Rock music elevates rhythm as the most stressed element, then harmony-melody is last. ... Rap is the logical extension of the direction in which rock music has been headed. Once you demote certain musical elements into relative unimportance, they will soon disappear altogether. Most of rock music did away with melodic interest a long time ago. Therefore, if melody is unimportant, why have it? This is exactly what rap 'music' has done. It has emphasized rhythm as the only important musical element, while de-emphasizing melody and harmony to the point where they are virtually non-existent. By every good definition of music, rap is not music! It is merely rhythmic entertainment" (pp. 77,78).

The term rock music would therefore include other genres of modern day music, which meet these criteria, such as Rap, R & B, Country, Reggae, Pop, etc.  All these modern forms of music in this article will be referred to under the general term as rock music

1.  Rock music’s origin.

Rock music was first used thousands of years ago in demonic cults and religions and continues to be used today.  I am sure we have all seen scenes of natives dancing around fires doing some kind of spirit dance.  These rituals have in many cases been performed for thousands of years.  The music that accompanies this type of ritual is music with a heavy beat or music where the beat is the dominant part of the music.  As we have already discussed music where the beat is the prominent or controlling part of the music has been defined as rock music. Thus the origin of rock music or original use of rock music was to accompany pagan and or demonic rituals for the purpose of invoking spirits.  Following is a quote that illustrates the connection between rock music and these demonic cults and religions.

“The so called pagan religions share the conviction that religious worship is a bodily celebration.  A dance of the entire community.”

“The metaphysical goal of the pagan way is to experience the intense meeting of the human world and the spirit world.  Spurred by the holy drums, deep in the meditation of the dance, one is literally entered by a god or a goddess.  The body literally becomes the crossroads, human and divine are united within it-and it can happen to anyone.” 

In Abomey, Africa, these deities that speak through humans are called vodun.  From their vodun comes our Voodoo, and it is Voodoo that we must look for the roots of our [rock] music.

“The Voodoo rite of possession by the god became the standard of American performance in rock ‘n’ roll.  Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, James Brown, Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, Jim Morrison, Johnny Rotten, Prince-they let themselves be possessed not by any god they could name but by the spirit they   felt in the music.  Their behavior in this possession was something Western society had never before tolerated.  And the way a possessed devotee in a Voodoo            ceremony often will transmit his state of possession to someone else is by merely by touching the hand; Western performers transmitted their possession through   their voice and their dance to their audience, even through their records.

“Rock ‘n’ roll... does preserve qualities of that pagan metaphysic intact so strongly that it unconsciously generates the same dances, acts as a major antidote to the mind/body split, and uses a derivative of Voodoo’s technique of possession as a source for performers and audience alike, of tremendous personal energy.” [1]

The fact that rock ‘n’ roll originated with satanic cults and religions, and has been used for thousands of years by these satanic cults and religions, and is continued to be used today is a well documented fact.  Even secular rock stars acknowledged this fact.  Here are some comments made by rock star and icon Jimi Hendrix.

"He [Hendrix] had gotten a chance to see Rocki and some other African musicians on the London scene. He found it a pleasure to play rhythms against their polyrhythms. They would totally get outside, into another kind of space that he had seldom been in before. ... ROCKI’S FATHER WAS A VOODOO PRIEST AND THE CHIEF DRUMMER of a village in Ghana, West Africa. Rocki’s real name was Kwasi Dzidzornu. ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS ROCKI ASKED JIMI WAS WHERE HE GOT THAT VOODOO RHYTHM FROM. When Jimi demurred, Rocki went on to explain in his halting English that many of the signature rhythms Jimi played on guitar were very often the same rhythms that his father played in voodoo ceremonies. The way Jimi danced to the rhythms of his playing reminded Rocki of the ceremonial dances to the rhythms his father played to Oxun, the god of thunder and lightning. The ceremony is called voodooshi. As a child in the village, Rocki would carve wooden representatives of the gods. They also represented his ancestors. These were the gods they worshiped. They would jam a lot in Jimi’s house. One time they were jamming and Jimi stopped and asked Rocki point-blank, ‘You communicate with God, do you?’ Rocki said, ‘Yes, I communicate with God’"[2]

Look at what Little Richard said about rock music.

"My true belief about Rock ‘n’ Roll--and there have been a lot of phrases attributed to me over the years--is this: I believe this kind of music is demonic. ... A LOT OF THE BEATS IN MUSIC TODAY ARE TAKEN FROM VOODOO, FROM THE VOODOO DRUMS. If you study music in rhythms, like I have, you’ll see that is true ... I believe that kind of music is driving people from Christ. It is contagious"[3]

This next story supports that fact that rock music originated in voodoo and links Christian rock to that same origin.

“In 1981, I was driving down a jungle road in the Ivory Coast with several African pastors in the car with me.  I had recently received a couple of cassette tapes from our denominational headquarters that were intended for our teenage daughter.

These were recordings of various ‘Christian rock’ artists.  In listening to the tapes, I was very disturbed in my own spirit that such material was being sent to our missionary kids.

But not trusting my own reaction alone and realizing that these pastors with whom I was traveling were very sensitive to the spirit world (both good and evil), I decided to play the tapes for them.  The reaction I got was immediate and verbally violent!

One of the pastors asked me this question,  ‘Do you mean to tell us that this kind of music is played in your churches in America?’

I answered in the affirmative.  His response was filled with disgust and anger as he replied with another question.  ‘What are you doing allowing your church people in America to call up the evil spirits with their music?’” [4]

Even the origin of the name ‘rock and roll’ has its roots in evil.

“Rock 'n' roll was a kind of fusion between rhythm & blues and country & western music. Freed was one of the first white people to play this new rhythm & blues/country combination on his radio program, and was perplexed as to what to call it since it obviously needed a new name. Freed had been receiving bizarre reports concerning kids' reactions to this new music, so decided to name it after a ghetto term that black people used for pre-marital sex in the back seat of a car -- hence, the term "rock 'n' roll" was coined.”[5]

So undeniably we can see from many sources secular and Christian that the origin of rock music was with the various forms of satanic religious ceremonies.  Even the history of its name speaks of its evil origins.  Thus the origin of rock music can be traced back to voodoo ceremonies.

“Musicologists and historians are in no doubt that the drum rhythms of Africa were carried to America and were transmitted and translated into the style of music which became known as jazz. Since jazz and the blues were the parents of rock and roll, this also means that there exists a direct line of descent from the voodoo ceremonies of Africa, through jazz, to rock and roll and all the other forms of rock music today"[6]

2.  Rock music’s purpose.

In the last example the purpose of rock music was already alluded to, namely that rock music was designed by satan to “call up evil spirits” which in effect allows him to influence and or gain control of those who listen to it.  The heavy beat of rock music not only “calls” on evil spirits but also causes emotional and physical responses, which are not righteous.  Thus when people listen to rock music in reality, whether they realize it or not, they are inviting the forces of darkness to influence or control them and they are harming their mind and body.  The next quote from a former Satanist supports these facts.

            “When I was about seven, I became involved in a

satanic coven....  I was involved quite heavily in satanic worship for seven years in three different covens.... Satanic worship services are designed to put the worshipers into a mood where spirits can be called to manifest themselves during the service.  They always use live music, and the music always has a beat.

They start with a drummer.  The rest of the instruments are geared to the drumming. These people practiced many, many hours for every service we had.  It was rock music with a rock beat.  We were told that the reason they used the rock beat was because it’s the same beat as your heart.

Subconsciously, while you listened to the music, it would open you up.  People weren’t aware that they were opening up to spirits, because they were concentrating on the music.  The music is a great part of the service because it opens you up to spirits without you being aware of it.  This music prepared everyone to open themselves up to the forces of darkness.

As those forces respond to that invitation, people become inhabited by demons.  There is no way to carry out the things done in those services without inviting spirits into your life to empower you to do them.  During those services, I saw atrocities and vile acts.  People turned against their friends with savagery, even  becoming cannibalistic.” [7]

A Christian from Zimbabwe who had formerly been involved in demonic activities after visiting the U.S. also brings this fact to light.

“I am very sensitive to the beat in music, because when I was a boy, I played the drums in our village worship rituals.  The beat that I played on the drum was to get the demon spirits into people.  When I became a Christian, I rejected this kind of beat because I realized how damaging it was.  When I turned on a Christian radio station in the United States, I was shocked.  The beat that I used to play to call up   the evil spirits is in the music I heard on the Christian station.” [8]

A former satanist high priest stated the following;

“My background is not a good one, but I give thanks and praise to God for saving me from it.  I was a satanist high priest for nine years...  When I first became involved in the occult, music had a big influence on my life.  It was not just the words but the music itself.  The beat and style of the music used in the occult rituals is the same that I now hear in ‘Christian power tracts,’ Christian rock and roll,’ ‘Christian rap,’ and in much of what is called ‘Christian contemporary’ music today... How long will Christians allow themselves to be deceived and lied to by satan (the father of lies)?” [9]

These quotes establish the fact that rock music in any form, Christian or not, is used by satan for the purpose of influencing or gaining control of someone inducing them to do evil.  Thus when people listen to rock music, in reality, whether they realize it or not, they are inviting the forces of darkness to influence and or control them for evil.  Rock music is also being used by satan to prepare the world for the antichrist as brought to light by this next quote. 

“The Guiding Spirits of Crowley made it quite clear to him that, soon after his death, the world was going to enter the final stage of preparing the hearts and minds of the people to accept the Black Magick attitudes and values of Antichrist. Crowley was told that a very special kind of music was to prepare the hearts and minds of the people for Antichrist. Rock-n-Roll was that music.”[10]

3.  Rock music’s effect.

Thus far we have examined the origin of rock music, and the purpose of rock music, we will now look at its effect on people’s lives.  Rock music negatively affects people in many ways.  For one, there is much evidence to show that rock music and its derivatives are addictive and can cause great harm to an individual.  The medical definition of an addiction is a “physical or psychological, or both, dependence”[11] on that which is not necessary for life.  An addict is one who “devotes or surrenders himself to something habitually or obsessively.’” [12] Millions of people especially teenagers display all the classic signs of an addiction in regards to rock music. Dr. Alan Bloom, in regards to rock music, said in his book, The Closing of the American Mind, “Nothing is more singular about this generation than its addiction to music.”  The characteristics of an addiction are the following;

            1.  Denial of the addiction.

            2. Sacrifice of relationships for the addiction.

            3. Compulsion to engage in the addiction at any time.

            4. Secrecy about the addiction.

            5. An appetite for the addiction that is never satisfied.

            6. Unusual efforts to feed the addiction.

            7. Readiness to defend the addiction.

            8. Need to involve others in the addiction.

9. Condemning those who say the addiction is wrong.[13]

These signs of an addiction are all characteristic of many who listen to rock music.  A Psychiatrist wrote the following about the addictiveness of rock music;

“One of the most powerful releases of the fight-or-flight adrenaline high is music which is discordant in its beat or chords.  Good music follows exact mathematical           rules, which cause the mind to feel comforted, encouraged, and ‘safe.’  Musicians have found that when they go against these rules, the listener experiences an addicting high.

Like unscrupulous ‘diet’ doctors who addicted their clients to amphetamines to ensure their continued dependence, musicians know that discordant music sells and sells.  As in all addictions, victims become tolerant.  The same music that once created a pleasant tingle of excitement no longer satisfies.  The music must become      more jarring, louder, and more discordant.  One starts with soft rock, then rock ‘n’roll, then on up to heavy metal music.” [14]

Not only is rock music addictive it also does damage to one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well being.  This was the conclusion of an American Medical Association study where they linked rock music to destructive behaviors and influences.  They said in their report entitled ’Adolescents and Their Music’ published by the Journal of the American Medical Association: 

“Doctors should be alert to the listening habits of young patients as a clue to their emotional health, because fascination with rock ‘n roll, especially heavy metal music, may be associated with drug use, premarital sex and satanic rites... The committee cited ‘.... evidence linking involvement with rock culture with low school achievement, drugs, sexual activity and even satanic activities.’  At the very least, commitment to a rock subculture is symptomatic of adolescent alienation”

There is also a large body of scientific research that shows that rock music has a very negative effect upon ones’ physical body.

“To the question, 'Does music affect man's physical body?,' modern research applies in the clear affirmative. There is scarcely a single function of the body which cannot be affected by musical tones ... Investigation has shown that music affects digestion, internal secretions, circulation, nutrition and respiration. Even neural networks of the brain have been found to be sensitive to harmonic principles…Researchers have discovered that consonant and dissonant chords, different intervals, and other features of music all exert a profound effect upon man's pulse and respiration -- upon their rate and upon whether their rhythm is constant, or interrupted and jumpy. Blood pressure is lowered by sustained chords and raised by crisp, repeated ones. [It has also been found that the tension of the larynx is affected by melodies, that sound stimuli can have a negative effect upon the skeletal muscles, that rock rhythms cause the heart beat to lose its perfect rhythm, and that certain rhythms can even cause a rare malady known as "musicogenic epilepsy" (76 documented cases as of 1984), with which some of its victims have been tormented to the point of committing suicide or murder.] ... We can see, then, that music affects the body in two distinct ways: directly, as the effect of sound upon the cells and organs, and indirectly, by affecting the emotions, which then in turn influence numerous bodily processes"[15]

Here is how one researcher explained the negative effect of rock music upon one’s physical well being.

…rock contains harmonic dissonance and melodic discord while it accents rhythm with a big beat. In fact, the anapestic beat [two short beats, a long beat, then a pause] used by many rock musicians actually is the exact opposite of our heart and arterial rhythms [thereby causing an immediate loss of body strength]."[16]

There is also scientific research to show that rock music is destructive to any life form. 

“if music can be shown to affect plants, then such effects have to be due to the objective influence of the musical tones and rhythms directly upon the cells and processes of the life-form itself….not only did rock music stunt the growth of a wide variety of plants, but if played long enough, the plants actually died.  And even more startling were the findings of Dr. T.C. Singh, head of the Botany Department at Annamalia University, India. His experiments demonstrated that not only did certain forms of music and certain musical instruments (specifically, classical music and the violin) cause plants to grow at twice their normal speed, but that later generations of the seeds of musically stimulated plants carried on the improved traits of greater size, more leaves, etc.![17]

A research scientist doing work in the area of harmonic resonance had this to say about the negative effect of rock music;

In all of God's creation, elements exist in molecules which have very specific lattices, which can be seen under a microscope.  The precise relationship of the angles within these lattices form mathematical constants such as pi, phi, etc... These exact same constants also form the mathematical ratios which define musical note harmony and resonance.  The purest of harmonies, those which "uplift" us, are also those which "resonate" in our hearts and souls.  Traditional Christian music affects us in just this way.  We elevate our souls to Jesus, and in so doing, feel, literally experience, His love within us….Rock music, as you correctly noted, used heavy monotone drum beats, which contain NO harmonious content, combined with disharmonious chords, and negative lyrics, a 1-2-3 combination designed to force the listener into a lower, animalistic state.  It effectively "pushes us down", away from God, weakens our spirit and makes our hearts dead to higher emotion.

Most of the so-called technological advances of recent history have been deceitfully designed to further alienate man from God.  Digitized music, even recordings of harmonious chords, use data bit samples instead of the full, analog waveforms, and these data bits do not immerse the listener in the pure sounds which resonate within.

These devices are being made even smaller and more powerful, marketed to adolescents, so they will be constantly exposed to the inherent evils of rock music, made worse by the stacatto bitstreams which pulse it into their minds.

The Adversary is employing every tool imaginable to destroy our youth today.  Music is so basically fundamental to our existence and being, that it is the front rank of the diabolical attack….Some styles of modern music, the "rap" or "hip-hop" versions, use monotone rhythmic chants in place of lyrics and harmonies. 

The monotone chant, like the drums of rock music, drive down the spirit of the chanters, weakening them to the message, which is typically negative or nihilistic.

Chant can be used to "enchant", as is done by shamans.  This is far from "modern", and is just as effective today, perhaps more so because today's technology affects entire societies.[18]

 So far we have seen that rock music was created by satan to influence and or gain control of individuals to induce them for evil.  We have also established that rock music is addictive and does damage to one’s physical, emotional and spiritual well being.  Thus we can conclude that rock music in any form, Christian or not, is a very destructive force.  Not only have the medical, psychiatric, and academic professions attested to the destructiveness of rock music but also many individuals have given testimony in regards to its destructiveness upon their lives.  Here a few of the many thousands of testimonies that brings this fact to light.

“One spring I had a job fixing up a house.  The work required weeks of painting, wallpapering, and general repair.  A well meaning friend wanted to help me ‘pass the time’ while I worked, so he gave me his favorite tape of contemporary Christian music.

I had never listened to this type of music before and was eager to be a part of whatever would strengthen my spiritual life.  Most of the songs were familiar hymns that I had sung in church, but they had been ‘livened up’ to make them more exciting.

There was only one song on the tape that had a strong rock beat.  The more I heard      this song, the more I wanted to listen to it.  After several weeks, instead of listening to the entire tape, I would just listen to this song with the beat.

As soon as the song was over, I would rewind the tape and listen to the same song again and again.  Even when I wasn’t playing this song, it seemed to keep playing in my mind.  Each day as I put this tape on, I wanted to turn it up a little louder.  Soon, I was playing it at full volume.  It was as though I was addicted to this song.

The words to the song were ‘Shine down Your light on me....’  It would seem that with the encouragement of this message, I would have become a greater witness for Christ.  In reality, the contrary became true.  Looking back, my spiritual life was taking a rapid downward turn that was characterized by compromise, apathy, and sensuality.

The worst thing is that I didn’t even notice the growing darkness that was overtaking my life.  The steady drone of the rock beat was a powerful anesthesia that deadened my spiritual senses and thus ushered in a host of tragic decisions.  Like a patient that is being operated on, I had no sense of spiritual pain.

After I completed the house-repair job, I went on a trip to visit several friends.  I was invited to do some things that I knew were wrong and of which my parents would not approve.  Although most without thought, I chose to disobey my parents and the Lord.  This was the first time in my life that I can remember ever willfully disobeying my parents.  I am ashamed in the things in which I participated, and I only wish I could somehow remove the reproach that I brought to the name of Christ.

Years have passed since that time, and God has shown me the deadly poison of the rock beat in any type of music.  It took months of daily time in God’s Word to regain the spiritual sensitivity that was lost during that season of my life.  I grieve over the destruction that satan brought to me through the rock beat.  Please don’t make the mistake I did by allowing this music into your life!” [19]       

Another wrote of the destructiveness of rock and Christian rock music in his life,

“....I saw that rock music, rebellion and immorality were hooked together, and that only when you get rid of the wrong music can you get rid of the immoral desires and wrong feelings to which I was in bondage.” [20]

And yet another,

“.... Then I was introduced to ‘Christian rock’ music as a means of evangelizing my unsaved friends.  I was so excited, because I could find contemporary Christian artists that sounded like my old secular favorites.  At first, I started with a mild beat, for fear of getting involved with rock music again.  However, I was told by many respected Christians that it was the lyrics that made secular music wrong, not the tune. 

My old desire for the ‘beat’ was satisfied again, but the things that it required of me waged a war within my soul.  It seemed as though there was always a conflict between my family and me.  Thoughts of suicide came to me during this period of time.  I had a deep desire to follow the Lord, yet I could not understand why I had            no victory in my life.” [21]

Rock music whether Christian or not is a very destructive force.  It originated with satan, and satan has used it for thousands of years in his satanic religions, such as Voodooism, Buddhism, Shintuism, etc.  He continues to use this music in these religions today, and this music is also used in actual satan worship services around the world.  Satan uses this music to influence the listeners for evil, and in some cases it leads to possession.  Rock music is very addictive and has caused the destruction of many lives and has negatively impacted the physical, emotional and spiritual well being of thousands of others. Thus we conclude that rock music in any form is evil and satanic.  Even secular writers have attested to this fact.

More than any other form of the misuse of sound, it is rock with which we must deal today. ... It is a global phenomenon; a pounding, pounding destructive beat which is heard from America and Western Europe to Africa and Asia. Its effect upon the soul is to make nigh-impossible the true inner silence and peace necessary for the contemplation of eternal verities. ... How necessary is it in this age for some to have the courage to be the ones who are 'different', and to separate themselves out from the pack who long ago sold their lives and personalities to this sound. ... I adamantly believe that rock in all its forms is a critical problem which our civilization must get to grips. ... if it wishes long to survive"[22] 

Some Christians disagree with the reasoning that says that rock music in any form is evil and they say that only secular rock is bad, but Christian rock is good.  They come to this conclusion by reasoning that because Christian rock has good lyrics, the good lyrics make the music good also.  This is an invalid argument based on false assumptions.  That argument is based on the assumption that the music is neutral and it is the words that make a song good or bad.  Music is not neutral or amoral, musical notes are amoral but not the music.  This is also the case with words and pictures.  Words and pictures are not amoral, that is they can either be good or bad.  Letters, lines, and colors are amoral.    So just like you can have evil words/stories and pictures you can also have evil music.  So the assumption that music is neutral is a false assumption. Even secular writers acknowledge this fact

“In his famous work, Laws, Plato lamented the musical revolution of his time and its "unmusical anarchy": "Through foolishness they deceived themselves into thinking that there was no right or wrong in music -- that it was to be judged good or bad by the pleasure it gave. By their work and their theories they infected the masses with the presumption to think themselves adequate judges. ... As it was, the criterion was not music, but a reputation for promiscuous cleverness and a spirit of lawbreaking"[23]

By the many facts presented in this paper it has been clearly shown that rock music its self is evil, regardless of what the words say, the words may or may not be evil.  To say that good words will make evil music good is like saying that a Bible verse written on a cigarette will make the cigarette good.  That is nonsense and so is the argument that music is amoral and it is the words that determine if a song is good or bad. 

Another fallacious argument is to say that Christian rock is good because it has been used to lead people to the Lord and helps others worship God.  My reply “the ends never justify the means” Whenever God’s people use the world’s methods to attempt to accomplish God’s purposes it results in destruction.  A classic example of this is the story of the Israelites bringing back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem after it was captured by the Philistines.  They began to transport the ark on a cart, which is the method that the Philistines used.  Uzziah reached out to steady it, which God had strictly forbidden in His word for anyone to touch the ark, and he died.[24]  In summary they tried to accomplish God’s purpose with the world’s method and it resulted in death.  God had already told them how to move the ark, with 2 poles, not a cart.  Even though they sincerely wanted to do right they used the world’s method and it resulted in death.  God has specifically told us in His word what type of music He wants us to listen to; melodious music, “singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”[25]  The Lord’s Prayer also eludes to this when it says ”Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”  I can guarantee that there will not be rock music in heaven.  The only instrument ever listed as being in heaven is the harp.  The harp is an instrument used primarily for melodious music.  Attempting to use the world’s method of rock music to accomplish God’s purpose, will have the same end as those who wanted to move the ark by cart, it will result in destruction.  Here is a quote which further elaborates on the foolishness of this logic.

"Christian rock [music] is the daughter of worldly rock. It tries to make the Christian message more appealing to the world by using a worldly medium. ... Charismatics and New Evangelicals have tried to Christianize demonic rock music, mixing holy with unholy, to reach today's young people. They said, 'To win them, we must speak their language.' But when they won them, what did they win them to? Whatever weak Gospel message [might be there] is lost in the process. May we similarly "Christianize" liquor by putting a Gospel message on the bottle label, and have Christians buy and promote it to reach drunks for Jesus? A good goal does not justify unscriptural methods"[26]

Christian rock music is a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”  The Christian lyrics make it appear to be all right, but no matter what the words say the music itself is still destructive.  No matter how well meaning those who promote, perform, or listen to Christian rock are; Christian rock is a very destructive force in the lives of many Christians, and has caused great harm to the church.  It is a true “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” 

Yet another fallacious argument used by many Christians to illogically defend Christian rock is that they say, “nowhere in the Bible does it say that it is wrong.”  I admit that in the Bible nowhere does it mention the words “rock music”, but the Bible does not mention the word cigarette either.  However by principle the Bible does condemn both rock music and cigarettes a thousand times over.  The principles that Christian rock violates have already been expounded upon in this paper.  Here is a list of some of those principles.

1. A Christian is to stay away from all aspects of satan and satanism. (James 4:7)

2. A Christian is to not harm his body, a temple of the Holy Spirit. (I Cor 6:19)

3. A Christian is not to be addicted to anything. (I Cor 6:12, Eph 5;18)

4. A Christian is to live on “earth as it is in Heaven.”  (Mt 6:10)

5. A Christian is to listen to and sing melodious music. (Eph 5:19)

It is quite apparent from what has been discussed thus far that rock music violates all of these principles from the Bible and thus the Bible does speak concerning rock music.

Satan has made a deadly attack on the Church of God through secular and Christian rock music.  He has already destroyed many with it, and will unfortunately destroy many in the future.  Christian rock music is truly a “wolf in sheep’s clothing!”  The evil in Christian rock has even become apparent to the secular world.  Here is a quote from a Newsweek article on July 16, 2001 entitled “The Glorious Rise of Christian Pop” that brings this fact to light.

“’Are you ready to rip the face off this place?’ screams the lead singer of Pillar (a Christian rock band).  A hyped-up crowd of teens—6,000 strong—goes nuts.  The aggressive rap-rock band launches into a pummeling kickoff number, the surly singer pounding the stage with his steel toed boot, sweating right through his baggy army fatigues and black bandana.  He gestures like a member of some vicious street gang as he screams and roars into the mike, his arm swinging low as if on the way to the requisite crotch grab.  This crude move is as integral to rap-rock as the blown kiss is to a lounge act, and is usually accompanied by an explosion of expletives.  The singer’s hand slaps down hard on his thigh-and stays there.  Gripping his pant legs with conviction, he screams, ‘Jesus Christ!’  Pause.  ‘Is He in your heart?’” 

The actions described here are far from Christ-like, even the secular writer brought that out when she described their performance with words such as “surly,” and “gestures like some member of a vicious street gang.”  As a result of watching this performance and others at a Christian rock festival she concludes,

“Fun and prayer aside, there’s no getting around the metaphoric elephant in the middle of this alt-rock fair: the values of Christianity and anti-values of rock seem morally incompatible.”

If secular people can recognize the moral incompatibility of rock music with Christianity why can’t Christians?  This next quote from the same article clearly shows this incompatibility.  This is what a veteran CCM artist said about Christian rock music,  “’I think rebellion and Christianity go together,” says Mark Stuart, 33, lead singer of Audio Adrenaline, a veteran CCM group that recently started their own label.”  My Bible says, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft” I Sam 15:23a.  The rest of the article reveals more.

“IT’S TIME TO WREAK HAVOC and give praise at Festival Con Dios, the first Christian alternative-rock tour.  This is the sanctified answer to hedonistic summer blowouts like Lollapalooza and Ozzfest.  ……Contemporary Christian music is now the hottest genre in the entire music industry.  If Christian pop used to connote sappy lyrics, lacquered hairdos and soft-focus videos, it now means the boy band Plus One, the Latin cross-over singer Jaci Velasquez and even the arty underground Danielson Family.  ‘CCM’ has become an umbrella term for anything with faith-based lyrics, from Twila Paris’s inspirational hymns to Audio Adrenaline’s squealing feedback.  ……. Occasionally, the music crosses over: CCM stars such as crooner Michael W. Smith and the roots-rock outfit Jars of Clay get play on VH1, and the metal bands P.O.D. and Lifehouse are embraced by MTV. 

This excerpt brings out the fact that Christian rock is crossing over to secular rock and vice versa and the two are becoming indiscernible.  The mere fact that it is being “embraced” by MTV should send up warning signals.  As already discussed one of the justifications for Christian rock music is that it can be used for evangelism.  Here is what the secular writer said about the “evangelism” she witnessed at the concert.

“As the sun goes down, special guest Anthony Walton hits the stage and preaches to the fresh-faced crowd about the inevitability of death, …..  The kids listen, but it’s hard to concentrate on pain and suffering when a motorcycle daredevil is getting ready to jump over a school bus right in front of you.”

Sounds like an effective way to preach the gospel, I wonder if anyone got saved?  Maybe if they just focused on how some of the attendees were acting it would bring them to salvation.  Here is what the author witnessed,

“But in the mosh pit, spiky haired boys do a fine job of knocking the bejesus out of one another, stopping midslam only to let a bunny-hopping conga line slip through.”

I do not know about you but this description sickens my stomach and is a sacrilege to the name of Christ.  The worldliness in all of this is clearly evident.  The Bible states that the Christian is to; “be not conformed to the world,” “have not the appearance of evil,” and “whatever is good…. Let your mind dwell on these things.”  We have already shown how Christian rock violates several Biblical principles, the Newsweek article clearly shows how Christian rock violates several more Biblical principles.

The truth has been presented, I have not lied or presented any false information.  Sound logic has been used to deduce the conclusions; the question is; are you willing to accept the truth that rock music in any form is satanic and destructive?  

So far we have established the following;

1.      Rock music originated with satanic cults and religions.

2.      Rock music was created by satan to influence and or gain control of individuals for evil.

3.      Rock music is addictive and does damage to one’s physical, emotional and spiritual well being.

4.      Rock music in any form, Christian or not, is a very destructive force,

5.      Good lyrics do not in themselves make a song good, but the music itself also determines whether a song is good or bad.

6.      The intended results of Christian rock do not justify its use. 

7.      Christian rock music violates several Biblical principles which have been listed above. 

In addition to the reasons listed above there is another witness against Rock music.  A highly significant Bible code has been found which shows that rock music is satanic.  You can view this Bible code at;

 http://www.ad2004.com/Biblecodes/Hebrewmatrix/rockmusic.html

It is my prayer that for your own good, the good of those in your family, the good of your brothers and sisters in Christ, and the glory of the Lord that you will abstain from listening to and or having in your possession rock music in any form.  Furthermore I call on Bible believing Christians everywhere to take a stand against the assault that the devil has made through Christian rock music.  Let us band together denounce it, and abhor it just as a group of pastors in Russia did.  This is what they wrote to American Christians.

“For thirty years we have suffered intense persecution, and now freedom is bringing another great harm to our churches.  This damage is coming from the Christians in America who are sending rock music and evangelists accompanied by rock bands.

Our young people do not attend these meetings because we have all committed not to participate in secular entertainment.  This is a great burden on our hearts.

Many come with Bible in hand and rock music.  We are embarrassed by this image of Christianity.  We do not know what words to use in urging that this be stopped. We abhor all Christian rock music coming to our country.

Rock music has nothing in common with ministry or service to God.  We are very,         very against Christian Americans bringing to our country this false image of ‘ministry’ to God.  We need spiritual bread-please give us true bread, not false cakes.  It is true that rock music attracts people to church, but not to Godly living.

We were in prison for fifteen years and eleven years for Christ’s sake.  We were not allowed to have Christian music, but rock music was used as a weapon against us day and night to destroy our souls.  We could only resist with much prayer and fasting.

Now we have a time of more openness, and we are no longer taken to prison. However, now it is Christians from America who damage our souls.  We do not     allow this music in our church, but they rent big stadiums and infect teenagers and adults with their rock music.

We the leadership and congregations of the Unregistered Union of Churches, the former Persecuted Church, have made an agreement to not allow rock music in our churches.  We urge you to join with us, and we advise you to remove rock music from America, and certainly do not bring it to our country.

Do not desecrate our teenagers with it.  Even the unbelievers recognize it is unholy music and they cannot understand how American Christians can be so much like the world.  We can give you the conclusion that after Russian unbelievers have attended these rock concerts where Christ’s Word was preached, the people were very disappointed and disillusioned with Christianity.

We call this music from hell.  We urge all Americans to stop giving money for the organization of such concerts in Russia.  We want only traditional Christian music in our churches.  This is the unanimous decision of all our leaders.”[27]

O that American Christians would come to the same conclusion!

I am writing this paper because I am greatly concerned for the well being of Christians.  I have seen too many people harmed by this music to let this practice continue without saying something about it.  This next quote explains why many fall into this trap.

"The tragic truth is that most Christians judge the effectiveness of music based upon the yardstick of the flesh, rather than the yardstick of the Spirit. If a song thrills us, we like it. If it doesn't excite us, we don't like it. Too often our opinion of a song is not based on the musical, textual, or even biblical worth of it -- but rather on how it makes us feel. As in so many other areas of life, we take a sensual approach to music."[28]

I am assuming that most Christians who listen to Christian rock music do it out of ignorance to the damage that it can do to them and their children.  A former satanist put it this way;

“With my background, it’s very difficult for me to understand why any Christian would want to put Christian words to that kind of music.  I have to believe that they are sincere, but I do not believe that they really understand what they’re opening themselves up to and the invitation they are giving to the enemy of their lives.  When I hear rock music in church, to me it’s like taking a Ouija board to church and saying,  ‘We’re going to play this and not summon the powers of darkness.  We’re going to play this and try to get a message from God.’  It just doesn’t fit.”[29] 

For God’s glory and the furthering of His kingdom and for your sake and the sake of future generations let us stop listening to any form of rock music, remove it from our homes, and take a stand against it.  I call on pastors and churches to stand up for what is right and denounce this evil practice.  Many churches are bowing their knee to the god of rock music to gain numbers.  Here is what Rick Warren’s purpose driven church says about music.

“The style of music you choose to use in your services will be one of the most critical (and controversial!) decisions you make in the life of your church. It may be THE most influential factor in determining who your church reaches for Christ and whether or not your church grows. You must match your music to the kind of people God wants your church to reach….We’ve often been referred to in the press as “The flock that likes to rock.” We use the style of music the majority of people in our church listen to.”[30]

Woe to the church that brings in the worldly beat to its worship services and caters to the fleshly desires of people to get a bigger crowd.  This does not glorify God and God will bring judgment upon those churches that have fallen into this “error of Balaam.”

Scripture admonishes us to flee evil things.  “But thou, O man of God, flee these things: follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.  Fight the good fight of faith.” I Tim 5:11-12a  “Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  Be afflicted and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:7-10.  Let us not only get rid of rock music but let us replace it with good.  “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Eph 4:22-24.  Let us put off the “old man” with its evil rock music, and put on the “new man” with its melodious good music. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”  Eph 5:19

Rock music is evil, abhor it and flee from it before it destroys you and your loved ones.

[1]  Michael Ventura, “Hear That Long Snake Moan,”  Whole Earth Review, Spring 1987,  pp. 28 - 43.